Becky Watts killer considered pretending to be her to cover for the crime, court hears

THE STEPBROTHER of Becky Watts considered pretending to be her and messaging loved ones after killing the teen.

Nathan Matthews was being cross examined today in the Becky Watts murder trial

Nathan Matthews said he toyed with the idea so family members would have thought the 16-year-old had just left home, following her disappearance.

Matthews, who admits the killing but claims it is accidental, said he thought about taking possessions from the home to make the story believeable.

The 28-year-old said: "I would have to go back and obviously get the items, but I didn't know what to do with the items or how to message her family - my family - and let them know she was fine, 'I'm happy, I'm off somewhere'."

Matthews has claimed he wanted to abduct the teenager to scare her as he claimed her behaviour was upsetting his mother, who lived with Becky.

Alongside his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, he is accused of the teenager's murder.

It is claimed the pair were looking to snatch Becky from her bedroom in a sexually motivated killing.

During cross examination at Bristol Crown Court, Matthews admitted cutting up Becky's body and putting parts in the freezer.

He says he cut Becky up in his confined bathroom with his eyes shut using just one hand to hold the saw while "rushing" - but didn't damage the bath.

PA

Nathan Matthews during his police interview

He said he left Hoare at his mum's house and went to buy a saw from B&Q, before putting Becky's body in his bath.

The jury has already heard an expert suggest Matthews used a knife to cut into the girl's flesh to make it easier to hack off Becky's limbs with the circular saw.

But when asked about that, Matthews denied this. He said: "I closed my eyes. I had the saw with one hand.

"She may be a specialist but she hasn't got a clue."

Mr Mousley QC said: "There was not a single mark of damage on the bath from the use of a saw. Can you help us with that?"

He answered: "I was using the saw one handed."

When asked if he was 'careful', he answered: "Not really. I mean like I think I made one or two mistakes.

"I was obviously aware that I couldn't do it a certain way because I would have damaged the bath so I just did it a certain way.

"I wasn't slow. I was rushing and doing what I had to do. It was the packaging that took a while."

Matthews then said while he stored some of Becky's body parts in a blue box - which was later found containing her torso - he put some parts in his freezer.